Shell.



A. P. CLARK.

SHLL.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23. 1911.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

INVENTOR W|TNESSES ATTOR N EY l a citizen of the United States,

arena orrrcn.

. SHELL.

' Application filed April 23,

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, ARCHIE PAUL CLARK, residing at Alvaston, in the Province of British Columbia'and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improve-' ments in Shells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in projectiles, and more particularly to those used in heavy ordnances.

The main object of the invention is to provide a simple and cheaply constructed projectile which is adapted to discharge a plurality of smaller projectiles with a maximum amount of force and a minimum consumption of powder.

-Another object is to provide a projectilein the form of a shell which is rendere doubly safe by the use of a visible fuse and in which it is necessary to fire the powder before the discharge will occur.

Another object is to provide a shell of this character which is equipped with means to prevent cutting off of the fuse should the shell penetrate a solid object.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a shell constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a thereof,

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken onthe central longitudinal section line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation on a small scale with parts broken out, and

Fig. 5 is a detail showing slightly different means for retaining the bullets in the firing chambers, the casing being omitted.

The body I of the shell constituting this invention is constructed of ordinary configuration-and of any suitable metal, preferably iron or steel, incylindrical form and with a pointed end or nose 2. A bore 3 extends longitudinally through the center of the body portion 1, from end to end there- Specification of Letters Extent,

. outer end to facilitate its insertion and re moval. The otherend of the bore 3 at the rear of the shell is closed by a cap 6 which preferably fits within a fragile jacket or casing 7 composed of tin or other readily penetrable material which is fitted over the shell to retain the smaller projectiles to be described within the firing chambers. plurality of longitudinally spaced series of bores or openings 8 radiate from the bore 3, four of said openings 8 being here shown in each series, but obviously any desired number may be used, and eleven series of these bores are shown but it is obvious that this number may be increased or decreased at the will of the manufacturer. These bores or openings 8 may be of any desired caliber according to the size of the bullets or projectiles 9 which are to be loaded-therein. As shown, these bores taper toward their inner ends as indicated at 10, each being connected with the bore 3 by a tubular neck 11. These necks are designed to receive a fuse of slow burning powder for igniting the charge or explosive indicated at 12 therein, said explosive being preferably powder. Arranged outside the explosive charge 12 in each bore 8 are a plurality of bullets 9, three of which are here shown disposed in each opening 8, said openings constituting firing chambers.

A slow burning powder or fuse 13 is disposed within the bore 3, being retained therein by the threaded plug or rod4 mounted in the nose 2 and which is designed to be removed to permit charging of this bore.

A fuse opening or channel 14 opens through oneside wall of the body member 1 near the pointed end thereof, and communicates with bore 3 and is designed to receive and house a fuse 15, one end of which is embedded in the powder or fuse 13 in bore 3 and the other end of which projects beyond the larger rear end of the shell as is shown at 16, said fuse being arranged between the frangible jacket 7 and the outer face of the body 1 of the shell.

From the above description, it will be seen that when this shell is loaded in the manner above described, the firing chambers 8 thereof being connected through their necks 11 with the fuse chamber 3, that the ignition of Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

1917. Serial No. 164,058.

the fuse 15 will cause the powder or fuse 13 to ignite and fire the charges 12 contained in the chambers 8, said-explosion in the chamthereby greatly che'apeningthe construction of the shell.

It will also be understood that the countersinking of the fuse 15 at one side of the nose 2 of the projectile will prevent all possibility .of the fuse being cut off should the projectile penetrate a solid object, and hence the explo'shion of the shell will not be interfered wit l While the bullet retaining casing 7 has been shown in connection with this shell, it

frangible jacket encircling said body. and

is to be understood that this casing is not an essential feature of the invention and may be dispensed with, the' bullets being retained withintheir firing chambers by crimping the ends of-the chambers over them after theyhave been'loaded, and this form is shown in detail in Fig: 5.

From the foregoing description, taken in' series of: branch v central bore and opening through the side connection with the accompanying drawin the advantages of the construction and of t e method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains and while I have descr bed the principle of operation of the invention together withthe device which I now con-.

sider to be the best embodiment thereof I desire to have it understood that the device.

shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made as are within the scope 1 object of theclaimed invention.

I claim:

1. A projectile of the classdescribed comprising a solid body member havinga bore extending longitudinally throughout with. firing chambers radiating therefrom at ri ht angles thereto and communicating therewith tendin and adapted to receive explosive material and, small projectiles, a fuse disposed in said bore and connected with the firing chambers, and a-fuse housed in one end of said body member connected With the fuse in said bore in advance of said chambers and extending through one side wall of said body member, and countersunk therein to prevent cutting ofi of the fuse when theprojectile enters. a solid object. v

2. A projectile of the class described comprising a solid metal body having apointed nose and a central fuse-containing bore eX- tendin longitudinally from end to end thereo the portion passing through said nose being threaded, a closure plug having threaded engagement with said threaded bore and, a plurality of longitudinally spaced closing said chambers, anda fuse leading from one end of said central bore.

3. A projectile of the class described comprising a solid metal body having a pointed nose and a central fuse-containing bore exlongitudinally from end to end thereo 'a plurality -'of longitudinally spaced boires radiating from said walls of said body .te form firing chambers,

said chambers tapering toward their inner ends, channels of reduced diameter connecting said :ends with said bore, and a fuse channel opening through one sidewall of the body near its nose and communicating with said central bore, said fuse channel being countersunk in said body to prevent the fuse being cut ofl when the shell enters a solid In testimony whereof I. alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' ARCHIE PAUL CLARK. Witnesses:

' D. -MCMASTER,

LENNOX Fox. 

